Put the days of cleaning your floors on your hands and knees with a bucket of water and soapy sponge mops behind you! Floor mops were created to simply make your life easier and more convenient. Not to mention, they are also a very affordable staple household item. Floor mops are great for quick and causal cleanups and overall daily maintenance. With disposable cleaning pads, storing your mop is less of a hassle. They also save you money on water, and we can’t forget about your back when bending down to collect dust from a dustpan. Finding the right mop for your needs really makes a difference for your household! With that being said, we know there are tons of brands to choose from. We have made your life even easier by narrowing down the two most popular mop brands on the market, Bona and Swiffer.
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Why We Chose Bona and Swiffer
We all know the brand, Swiffer. Proctor & Gamble introduced the Swiffer Sweepers 19 years ago and was the pioneer of the floor stick mop phenomenon. Swiffer’s brand awareness is so big that people refer to floor stick mops in general as “Swiffers.” However, Bona is an upcoming brand to compete and boy they bring the heat! They have been around for 100 years and both brands are true market leaders when it comes to cleaning your floor. They both have great reviews and similar price points with great value! Let’s dive into the nitty gritty.
Pricing
On Amazon, Swiffer Sweeper starter kit starts at $11.85 and it includes 1 mop, 7 dry cloths and 3 wet cloths. You can buy Swiffer wet refill pads in a 24 pack for $23.49, however there is no brand named microfiber pads. There is a generic compatible option available on Amazon to buy separately, a 2 pack that costs $9.99. After getting all of the different options for cleaning your floor, you are looking to spend around $45.
Bona Premium Multi Surface Mop kit costs $20.34 and that comes with a microfiber cleaning pad and microfiber dusting pad. Disposable wet cleaning pads can be bought separately and comes in a 12 pack container for $8.97. If you are looking to buy additional microfiber cleaning pads, a 3 pack is an available add on for $12.34. Your total with different options for Bona comes out to around $42, but that includes less wet pads. Upfront, Bona is just a little bit more pricey than the Swiffer.
As you can see, both brands have similar price points that don’t break the bank. They even both carry more expensive spray mops, too. The Swiffer WetJet ($24.94) and the Bona Hardwood Floor Spray Mop ($28.99) incorporate cleaning solution inside the mop where you can spray the floor while cleaning with a press of a button. Overall, Bona’s kit may initially be more expensive, but consumers don’t need to buy as many replacement pads since it comes with the add ons already. Whereas Swiffer’s kit is initially cheaper but you have to buy additional refill pads and the off brand “swiffer-compatible” microfiber pads.
Features
Swiffer Sweepers are a 2 in 1 floor mop. It is compatible with wet and dry refillable pads. The bright green mop has a 360 degree swivel head with cloth grips to keep the pads intact. You can adjust the pole, however it takes time as you have to detach the entire pole to readjust the height. As mentioned prior, you can purchase swiffer compatible microfiber pads for deeper cleaning.
The Bona Premium Microfiber Mop has a couple of additional features. This includes an extra large mop head (16.5 inches) which is about 6.5 inches bigger than the Swiffer Sweeper. It has soft flexible corners and a telescoping pole that is easy to adjust the height (you just twist!). Lastly, the microfiber cleaning pad that comes with the mop is machine washable. An additional bonus is the microfiber dusting pad that also comes with the mop! If you’re using the wet pads, there are locking strips to easily attach the mop (bottom of mop has velcro) to the pad.
- Comes with a one-piece 60" telescoping handle and full 360-degree swivel head base, a 4" x 15" cleaning pad that attaches to base with Velcro, and a microfiber dusting pad
- Perfect for hardwood and hard surface floors
- Electrostatic action hones in on dirt and allergens when used dry or wet with a cleaner
How We Tested
In order to test both mops, we decided to do side by side comparisons with the mops’ respective wet pads and microfiber pads. When testing both mops, the Swiffer Sweeper was up first. We found the wet pad for the Swiffer was rather messy, it was already dripping liquid when taking one out of the container. Assembling the pad was also messy when inserting the four corners in the cloth grips. Nonetheless, the slim Sweeper was easy to maneuver in small crevices due to the size. We swept the floor for 5 minutes before the pad was completely dirty and ready to be changed.
As for the Bona Mop, attaching the wet pad was very easy with the locking strips on both the pad and under the mop. The wet pad was wet, but not messy or leaking excess liquid. After using the Bona Mop for 5 minutes we noticed we didn’t have to stop and change the pad just yet like we had to do with Swiffer. We swept for 15 minutes, and even after then, the Bona wet pad could have done more clean up! Adjusting the pole was seamless (you just have to twist) and we noticed we could still swivel in smaller areas, we just needed to rotate it since the width of the Bona Mop is significantly wider.
Bona wet pad (top) vs Swiffer wet pad (bottom) after cleaning
When testing the wet pads, both mops were effective for the clean up process. We can’t say the same for the microfiber pads. These pads are primarily used for dusting, but can be used for deeper cleaning when pairing with a cleaning solution. Our test included dust cleaning primarily. The generic green microfiber pad actually fit the Swiffer well, even though it is a generic brand. You attach the velcro over the mop head. We dusted the floor for 5 minutes and as you can see in the picture, the Swiffer Sweeper caught a lot of the surface dirt on the floor. As for the Bona Mop, you attach the microfiber pad to the bottom of the mop with the locking strips. We also dusted the floor for 5 minutes and we determined the clean up was comparable to the Swiffer Sweeper. We did notice that the Bona did pick up more hair, which is always a plus when you have pets living in your household!
The Best Floor Stick Mop
Overall, we have declared the Bona Premium Microfiber Mop to be the world’s best floor mop! We have come to this conclusion for a couple of reasons. First, the Bona handle can easily be adjusted, which definitely saves time when you are trying to get a quick cleanup in. The way that the Bona Mop attaches to the wet pads and the microfiber pads is less of a hassle than the Swiffer Sweeper. The mop provides a seamless experience for the user when it comes to attaching and detaching the pads. You can trust that both pads are reliable to clean the floor for longer durations of time. It picks up surface dirt well, including hair which is a huge plus. The mop head is also significantly larger which makes cleaning large rooms easier. The only downside is that it was somewhat challenging to get into smaller spaces without having to move the furniture. Regardless, the Bona Premium Microfiber Mop still comes out on top. It is definitely worth paying just a little bit more than a Swiffer Sweeper. If you are looking for a reliable mop that comes with great add ons, then the Bona Mop is for you!
- Comes with a one-piece 60" telescoping handle and full 360-degree swivel head base, a 4" x 15" cleaning pad that attaches to base with Velcro, and a microfiber dusting pad
- Perfect for hardwood and hard surface floors
- Electrostatic action hones in on dirt and allergens when used dry or wet with a cleaner
Floor Stick Mop Tips
Check the Wet Pad
Make the most out of your wet pad by making sure you continue to clean your floors until you notice it isn’t picking up dirt anymore.
Stay Away from Certain Flooring
Don’t use wet pads on unfinished, oiled, or waxed wooden boards, non-sealed tiles or carpet.
Rotate the Mop
When maneuvering in small crevices with the Bona, rotate the mop head longways since the width is very large.
Wait for the Floor to Dry
Wait for the wet floor to be completely dry before finishing up with Bona Microfiber Duster Pad if you are looking to do deeper cleaning. Otherwise, using the wet pads by itself if a quick cleanup!
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Swiffer Sweeper and Bona Premium Microfiber Mop are both great options when it comes to cleaning your floors! They make life so convenient and we recommend investing in a floor stick mop regardless of the brand.
- Comes with a one-piece 60" telescoping handle and full 360-degree swivel head base, a 4" x 15" cleaning pad that attaches to base with Velcro, and a microfiber dusting pad
- Perfect for hardwood and hard surface floors
- Electrostatic action hones in on dirt and allergens when used dry or wet with a cleaner